Effect of vitamin C deficiency on hydroxylation of trimethylaminobutyrate to carnitine in the guinea pig

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 797; no. 1; pp. 136 - 139
• Main Authors: Thoma, William J., Henderson, Lavell M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 24.01.1984; Elsevier; North-Holland
• Subjects: analogs & derivatives; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Carnitine; Carnitine - biosynthesis; Coenzymes, vitamins; diet-related diseases; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - analogs & derivatives; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; gamma-Butyrobetaine Dioxygenase; Guinea pig; Guinea Pigs; human nutrition; Hydroxylation; Kidney; Kidney - metabolism; Liver; Liver - metabolism; Male; metabolism; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Mixed Function Oxygenases - metabolism; Muscles; Muscles - metabolism; Myocardium; Myocardium - metabolism; Other biological molecules; Trimethylaminobutyrate hydroxylation; Vitamin C deficiency; Guinea pig; Vitamin C deficiency; Trimethylaminobutyrate hydroxylation; Carnitine; Ascorbic acid; Hydroxylation; Enzyme; Deficiency; Liver; Rodentia; Vitamin; Biosynthesis; Striated muscle; Metabolism; Scorbutus; Γ-Butyrobetaine,2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase; Vertebrata; Mammalia
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006; 1878-2434
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(84)90392-1

The effect of ascorbate deficiency on carnitine biosynthesis was investigated in young male guinea pigs. Liver and skeletal muscle carnitine levels were reduced in scorbutic animals. Heart and kidney concentrations remained unchanged. 14C-labeled 4- N-trimethylaminobutyrate was administered to control, pair-fed and scorbutic animals and distribution of isotope in compound present in the liver after 30 min was determined. Control and pair-fed animals converted trimethylaminobutyrate to carnitine faster than scorbutic animals. Injection of ascorbate with the [ 14C]trimethylaminobutyrate reversed the decline in trimethylaminobutyrate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.1) activity in scorbutic animals.